Politics at all levels is often backward-looking negativity, rather than progressive positivity, so I needed to get away from it on such a beautiful day, and did this little photo feature on South Fremantle, also known as speedhump boulevard, which I shot during two hours of walking around.

NO! This is not at all an indication that I will be nominating for South Ward at the local government election, although I live in the ward.

No doubt those two lefties/communist/socialist/dogooders/bleedinghearts Greenies Liam Carter and Andrew Sullivan could do with opposition from a far right wing One Family Nation First kind of guy like me, but hey I can’t win the war against the Reds under the Beds all on my own.

I sleep bad enough as it is, without having to look under the bed every few minutes to see if anyone is hiding there.

The local government election for the City of Fremantle is on October 21 and things are heating up in South Fremantle Ward, with two Greenies announcing their nomination.

Sitting member Andrew Sullivan will contest the seat again and young and upcoming Liam Carter has also announced he will be standing.

They are both good candidates, with Sullivan being a very good performer in Council who is very well versed in all the planning rules and regulations.

Liam Carter initiated the Fremantle Youth Council and is also convenor of the South Freo precinct. He is a very impressive and grounded young man with a lot of commitment to his community.

The choice will be hard. Experience or young exuberance?

It will be a fascinating election, so I hope that most people will make the effort to vote.

Fremantle is in a time of very important transition and needs level-headed people, which both candidates for South Freo are. It is important we get substance and not just promises that can’t be realised, so carefully assess all the candidates who will be putting their hand up and separate hot air from achievable goals.

Good luck to Liam and Andrew. You are my Ward candidates, so looking forward to a public meeting and hearing your thoughts.

(I have no poster for Andrew Sullivan. He only posted an old one from four years ago on Facebook, so did not want to use it.)

There is another new cafe in South Fremantle. THREEO COFFEE & EATS at 244 South Terrace.

This is what the owners say about their new venture:

Threeo Coffee & Eats is the culmination of my French and Aussie backgrounds, and is serving up delicious treats from 244 South Terrace — enter through Salty Gold plants and homewares. We offer specialty coffee choices, cold brew and French press using locally-roasted Micrology coffee beans. For your hungry tummies we have amazing French pastries, rustic toasties, breaky crepes, quiches, salads and more!

Open weekdays from 6.30am and weekend from 7.30am. Free wifi, comfy couches and seating — come and hang out with us!

Give them a try and support all our local Freo businesses as much as you can. They are doing it tough.

Some of the 30 recently installed speedhumps along South Terrace in South Fremantle will be removed as the City of Fremantle fast recognised that it is overkill and has a negative impact on traffic, with some motorists doing slaloms around the humps, which makes it dangerous.

One speedhump in Wray Avenue will also be removed as the contractor created one more than they were instructed to do.

The negativity about it all is very annoying though.

As so often happens there are people in the community who claim they were not consulted on council issues in their neighbourhood. People against the speedhumps in South Fremantle now question the number of the residents who participated in the South Fremantle Precinct community meetings with City of Fremantle officers.

What they are suggesting is that because on average around 75 people per meeting attended the meetings at The Local hotel over a one year period they are not representative of the South Fremantle community.

If we take this further Fremantle Council also does not have a mandate because just under 30% of eligible people bother to vote at the local government elections.

What those who are now protesting loudly, after the horse has bolted, are saying is that the people who are willing to inform themselves and take the time to participate in the democratic process are less relevant than those who can’t be bothered to take an active interest in their community.

Do people really believe it is practical to door knock every resident before local governments make decisions, or that there should be on-line surveys rather than face to face communication between CoF officers and the affected communities?

One needs to question also if an on-line survey would reach 100% of affected people and how many of them would bother to participate, because community apathy is a curse for local government.

If people want to make a positive contribution to Fremantle they have to make an effort to inform themselves and not wait till it is served on a plate to them. Individuals have to combat their own ignorance about council matters and participate, rather than making uniformed comments from the sideline.

It is very important to share our ideas and concerns and find solutions together. Respectful dialogue between council officers, the community and elected members is a great way forward that we all can work on.

No one can be blamed for people not taking the time to inform themselves. They can only blame themselves.

Speedhumps are being installed this week along South Terrace between South Street and Douro Road in South Fremantle.

This is part of the traffic calming measures the City of Fremantle is creating at request of local residents and businesses, who believe South Terrace is dangerous for cyclists and pedestrians.

The traffic slowing will also delight residents of side streets off South Terrace as it is often a nightmare to try to turn into that street because of fast-approaching vehicles, lack of clear views, and the high volume of traffic, especially during peak hours.

The City undertook extensive community consultation with South Freo residents and businesses, so let’s hope this will improve the conditions.

I thought at the South Fremantle Precinct meeting at The Local last night how frustrating it sometimes must be to be a City of Fremantle officer and Councillor.

Three CoF officers were invited to talk about the process on the traffic calming of South Terrace and Councillor Andrew Sullivan also attended.

Questions were again raised that had already been addressed at previous community meetings and the process is about two third underway, but I don’t blame anyone for that, as it is often the case that those who attend the first meeting(s) don’t come again, while other do. It is great to see a crowd of around 60 people at a precinct meeting because community involvement is essential for the officers and elected members to make the right decisions.

Underground power is planned but who is going to pay for it. Normally it is around one third Western Power, one third City and one third paid by property owners, but the latter are very reluctant to hand over cash.

Five speed reduction platform nodes were suggested at Douro Road, South Street, Lefroy Road and Charles and Silver streets, but one resident suggested some should be put where there is already more activity such as near Abhi’s and Manna’s.

Widening footpaths to accommodate more street furniture, dedicated bicycle paths and trees all along are also on the cards.

There were concerns from residents of Marine Terrace that traffic calming along South Terrace would increase traffic in their street but as one officer said we can’t solve all problems at once and if there is a knock-on effect we have to deal with that if it happens.

Another resident pointed out that the two streets are very different with South Terrace having more cafes, restaurants, hotels and heritage buildings and hence traffic calming there made more sense than doing it along Marine Terrace.

Illegal parking makes it very difficult and dangerous for local residents to pull out of side streets onto South Terrace and parking officers should try to be more attentive to that problem.

From my own experience driving down South Terrace many times a week is that where there are activity notes motorists will slow down at Abhi’s, the Local Hotel, Lefroy Road and near the South Beach Hotel hospitality hub.

That is also happening in Wray Avenue were traffic slows down near Frank’s and Gallati’s because cars are pulling out, car doors are opened and pedestrians cross.

One of the basic facts of life is that one cannot please everyone and every change will have an impact on different areas, unless we all stop driving cars and hop on public transport or bikes.

Is this new building on the corner of Hulbert Street and Douro Road the best architects can come up with for old suburban streets? It is a very average, incoherent looking building that appears more industrial than residential, with old bricks thrown in for some kind of heritage reference, I suppose.

The large balconies on Hulbert Street have industrial looking steel balustrades in a street that has so much community participation and environmental awareness, so I doubt the local community there will feel very happy with this addition to their streetscape. This building is more suited to O’Connor than South Freo and it’s a shame the City of Fremantle approved it.